EPILOGUE ONE

         IT HAD BEEN A WHILE SINCE SHE HAD SEEN HIS GRANDMOTHER AND SHE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. The SUV's heater hummed softly as Rio eased the vehicle to a stop in front of the quaint home. The early December evening had already settled in, draping the neighbourhood in darkness, while a fresh layer of snow blanketed everything in serene stillness. The streetlights cast a soft glow over the snow covered street, and the air outside was crisp and cold, the kind of cold that made your breath visible in the air.

The occasional chatter of Marcus from the backseat was comforting as he yapped on and on about grandma's cooking and if Uncle Juan would let him stay up late again.

Lucy wrapped her coat tighter around herself, feeling the winter chill more keenly now that she was sixteen weeks pregnant. Still, she had always loved the winter season, so the cold didn't bother her too much—especially with Rio sitting beside her.

"Dad, look! It's snowing again!" exclaimed Marcus as he pressed his face to the window. "Can we play in the snow later? Please?"

"We'll see, buddy. Let's get inside first before we freeze."

Lucy smiled and shot Marcus a grin over her shoulder and she slid her hand off her stomach as she unbuckled herself. She and Rio had been cautious about telling people, but now, sixteen weeks in, it felt safe.

As they stepped from the vehicle, the cold winter air hit them like a slap in the face and she breathed in the crisp air. The brunette shivered and pulled her scarf up higher around her neck, her boots crunching in the snow as she followed Rio and Marcus toward the home. The warmth of the glowing windows beckoned them inside, promising hot food and a break from the chill of the outside world.

Marcus ran ahead, his tiny boots leaving a trail in the snow as he raced toward the front door. "Grandma! Grandma!" he shouted, his little hands knocking loudly on the door, impatient to be let inside.

Rio's hand found hers, his touch warm despite the freezing temperatures. "You doing okay?" he asked, his voice low and gentle.

Lucy nodded, squeezing his hand. "I'm good. Just cold."

As they reached the porch, Marcus's eager knocks echoed through the winter night. The wooden door creaked open and Rosa appeared in the doorway, bundled up in a thick, cozy sweater. Her face lit up as soon as she saw Marcus, her deep brown eyes sparkling with joy.

"You're getting so big, mijo! Look at you!" she exclaimed, bending down to sweep him up into a warm embrace.

Marcus giggled and hugged her tightly, his excitement spilling over as he looked up at her. "Grandma, there's so much snow! Can we make a snowman?"

Rosa laughed, brushing snow off Marcus's coat as she ushered them inside. "Of course, cariño, your cousins are outside." she said. "But first, come in, come in. It's freezing out there!"

The house was a stark contrast to the cold outside. As soon as they stepped in, they were enveloped by warmth and the comforting scent of a home cooked meal. The familiar smell of spices, roasting meat, and fresh bread filled the air. 

Inside, the house was decorated for the season. Twinkling string lights lined the windows, and a small, modest Christmas tree stood in the corner of the living room, its ornaments sparkling softly in the glow of the fireplace. The whole room felt cozy, like the warmth of family wrapped in the beauty of the season.

Rio helped Lucy out of her coat and scarf, his hand lingering on her waist as he leaned in to kiss her temple before they followed Rosa and Marcus into the kitchen.

Juan, who had his back to them, turned and shot them both a wide grin as he stood at the kitchen counter, chopping vegetables with a glass of wine beside him. "Finally! Took you guys long enough!" he teased, ruffling Marcus's hair as the boy dashed past him, heading straight for the backyard where his cousins were already playing in the snow. Marcus's excitement was contagious, his laughter echoing through the house as he eagerly shouted about building the biggest snow fort.

"You brought the snow with you, huh?" Juan added, casting a playful glance toward Lucy and Rio.

"Don't even get me started," Rio responded with a chuckle, as he embraced his grandmother. "Marcus is ready to take over the backyard with that fort. I'm just trying to keep up."

Rosa laughed softly, her eyes following Marcus's path as he disappeared outside. "That boy has enough energy for all of us combined." she said fondly, before turning her attention to Lucy.

The warmth in Rosa's smile grew as she stepped forward and gently cupped Lucy's hands. "Lucy, mija," she greeted, her voice full of affection, as if she were welcoming her own daughter into the home. "It's so wonderful to see you again."

She leaned in and pulled Lucy into a gentle hug, her embrace tender and filled with that deep, nurturing care that Rosa always seemed to radiate. Lucy melted into the hug, feeling the warmth and love from her settle around her like a comforting blanket. It wasn't just the heat of the house chasing away the winter cold, it was this, the sense of being truly welcomed, of being a part of this family.

"Good to see you, Rosa."

"I'm so happy you're here." Rosa whispered softly, pulling back slightly to look at Lucy's face.  "You look different, mija." Rosa added, her voice gentle but with a hint of curiosity. She tilted her head ever so slightly, her gaze lingering on Lucy's face for just a moment longer than usual. 

Lucy froze for a split second, her heart skipping a beat at Rosa's words. A sudden wave of nervousness washed over her, but she managed to keep her smile steady. "Oh," she replied, trying to laugh lightly. "It's probably just the cold making my cheeks pink."

"Mm-hmm," Rosa said, her tone filled with affection but laced with a hint of doubt. "Well, you certainly look beautiful, regardless."

Before the conversation could go any further, Rio came up beside Lucy, pulling her close to him with a casual arm around her waist. He glanced out the window, where Marcus and his cousins had already started throwing snowballs at each other in the yard.

"I better get out there before they start a full-blown snowball war." he said with a smirk. "You gonna be okay in here?"

Lucy nodded, her heart fluttering as always at his touch. "Yeah, I'm good. I'll help them with dinner."

With one last lingering look, Rio gave her waist a gentle squeeze before heading outside, pulling his coat around him as he stepped into the cold. The sound of Marcus's excited laughter greeted him instantly, and Rio jogged over to join the snowball fight already in progress. 

Lucy watched him for a moment through the window, smiling to herself as he scooped up a handful of snow and launched it toward his son, who shrieked with glee.

"Okay, let's see what you're made of." Juan teased, handing her a bundle of fresh herbs to chop. "Think you can keep up with my Michelin-star skills?"

"Seriously?" she scoffed playfully. "Last time all you did was chop and you nearly burned everything else. I'm pretty sure I saw Chris grimacing behind your back."

Juan's eyes widened in mock offense, his hand flying to his chest like she had wounded him. "Excuse me? Grimacing? Christopher? That man's taste buds are too busy dodging the grease from his late-night takeout to appreciate real talent."

Lucy chuckled, shaking her head as she began chopping the herbs. "I don't know... That burger you made last week was interesting."

Juan threw his head back, laughing. "You wound me, Lucy! Interesting? That was a fusion masterpiece!"

"Fusion of what?" Lucy quipped, as grin widened at the man beside her. "Cardboard and regret?"

"You're ruthless, you know that? How does Chris even survive with that sharp tongue of yours?"

Lucy laughed, feeling lighter. She enjoyed moments like these with Juan—his carefree attitude was infectious. He was always ready with a joke, the kind of person who could turn any moment into something fun. If she were honest she hadn't had a friend as good as him in a long while.

"I'll have you know," Juan continued, waving a wooden spoon at her, "that next time, I'm going to wow you with a dish so good, you'll have no choice but to admit defeat. You'll be begging me to cook every meal from now on."

Just as Lucy was about to fire back with another playful jab, Rosa's voice floated in from the hallway. "I'm just grabbing some more towels for the table, you two behave yourselves."

Juan's eyes flicked toward the hallway with a mock-serious expression. "Did you hear that, Lucy? We've been given a stern warning. No more reckless herb chopping or we'll be in serious trouble."

Lucy rolled her eyes and pursed her lips in amusement. "Oh, right. Wouldn't want to end up on Rosa's bad side. She's scarier than you are."

Juan shot her an exaggeratedly wounded look. "Scarier than me? Have you seen these biceps?" He flexed his arm dramatically, though his slender frame wasn't exactly built for intimidation. "Terrifying."

"Terrifyingly skinny, maybe," Lucy teased, nudging him lightly with her elbow as she finished chopping the herbs and passed them over. "But sure, we'll call it 'muscle.'"

Juan grinned, shaking his head. "You're lucky you're family now, otherwise I'd be hurt." He leaned in, lowering his voice as if to share a secret. "Speaking of family... you think Rosa's onto you yet?"

Lucy froze for a second, caught off guard. She glanced at Juan with wide eyes, feeling her pulse quicken. "What do you mean?"

Juan wiggled his eyebrows, his grin widening. "Oh come on, you really think I haven't noticed? That glow, the little extra care Chris' been taking around you, the way you two keep giving each other those looks... not to mention how sick you were a couple of weeks ago."

Lucy's face flushed, and she shot him a look of warning. "Juan..."

Juan raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin softening. "Relax, Lucy. I'm not going to say anything. You know me better than that." His voice turned more sincere, and the teasing glint in his eyes shifted into something warm and genuine. "But I am happy for you. Like, seriously. I've been waiting to hear the news."

"Why didn't you say anything earlier?" she asked, her tone curious.

"Because I wanted you to tell me when you were ready." he said, glancing at her with a soft smile. "It's your news to share. I mean, I've noticed things. Chris practically hovers around you, you look queasy most of the time, but I figured you'd tell me when the time was right."

Lucy blinked, her throat tightening slightly at his thoughtfulness. She hadn't realized how much she'd been holding onto the anxiety of someone figuring it out before they were ready to share. "You've really been waiting this whole time?" 

"Of course," Juan said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. He set the spoon down and turned to face her fully, leaning back against the counter. "I mean, come on, Lucy. You and him? You guys deserve all the happiness in the world. If that means waiting until you're ready to let everyone in on the secret, then I'm all for it. No rush."

"Thank you. I... I didn't know I needed to hear that."

Juan chuckled, giving her a playful nudge with his elbow. "You're welcome. Just don't forget, I get dibs on being the cool uncle, alright?"

hi loves, here is the first epilogue. there will be a few chapters with some time skips like i promised. This one is for the people who requested more Juan <3